2016 The Key

Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast

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About this Wine

From the far Sonoma Coast to the Russian River Valley to Carneros, our master blend Chardonnay spotlights the history and breadth of our vineyard program.

Library Selection

93 Points

“Briny lemon and tangerine lift a creamy lush personality buoyant in complementary and well-integrated acidity. This wine offers a wealth of succulence and complexity, trafficking in bold flavors and structure.”

Virginie Boone

Wine Enthusiast, February 2019

Tasting Notes

Accolades

Winemaking

Vintage

Vineyard

Tech. Notes

additional notes

Tasting Notes

From the far Sonoma Coast to the Russian River Valley to Carneros, this complex, layered wine spotlights the history and breadth of the MacRostie vineyard program. Exotic aromas of passion fruit, peach, and lime zest leap from the glass inviting a first sip. On the palate, this magnificent Chardonnay is a study in cool-climate purity and grace. Not only has extended aging in the finest French oak given this wine an appealing golden color, it has imparted a lovely hint of perfumed oak that adds nuance and depth to the bright citrus flavors, which carry through to a long, sophisticated finish.

Accolades

93 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast - February 2019

Winemaking

The grapes went directly to press as whole clusters where they were gently pressed in order to maximize quality. This provides a distinct mouthfeel and texture. After settling, the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation. This wine spent its entire life in barrel where it completed primary and secondary malo-lactic fermentations. After 10 months of aging in about 20% new French oak, the wine was blended and put into 13% New and 63% once-filled oak. Thus, the final blend has seen over 30% new French oak. To further increase richness and body, it was occasionally stirred. Deemed aged to perfection, it was bottled on February 14th, 2018.

Vintage

We pride ourselves on working with growers who know the land intimately. Vintage after vintage, the partnerships we have with our growers provide us with beautiful fruit. Among its key vineyards, this blend combines the beautifully lush, fruit-forward character of Mirabelle Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, the lemon citrus flavors from the acclaimed Bacigalupi Vineyard, the minerality of Kent Ritchie Vineyard, and the honey, ginger, and mineral notes from Steve MacRostie’s own Wildcat Mountain Vineyard. Prized pieces of Dutton Ranch and Sangiacomo’s Roberts Road Vineyard merry harmoniously into The Key.

Vineyard

We are now in our third year of crafting master blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We named these wines The Loch and The Key, both as a nod to our founder Steve MacRostie’sScottish heritage and to his early experiences as a cryptographer deciphering codes in Europe for the U.S. Army. Combining decades of winemaking mastery with our rich history on the Sonoma Coast, The Loch, and The Key are consummate blends, artfully crafted from our best blocks and barrels of wine. “Our goal is simple, but not easy,” says Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen. “We search our cellar for our most beautiful wines of the vintage—stirring wines that sing on the palate. Then we begin blending.” Like a secret code unlocked by our winemakers, The Key embodies everything that we know about making great Chardonnay.

Technical Notes

composition:
100% Chardonnay
alcohol: 14.3%
cases made:
8 Barrels
182 Cases
bottling date: 02/14/2018
aging:
Aged 10 months sur lie in French oak, 20% new
After blending, additional aging in 13% new and 63% once-filled oak.
fermentation:
Whole cluster pressed then racked to French oak (13% new & 63% once-filled) for primary and maloactic fermentation

additional notes

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